What is Crymaxxing? Dillon Latham Tears Hair Spray Viral

Content creator Dillon Latham recently went viral after claiming during a Kick livestream that he uses his own tears as a substitute for sea salt spray, a practice he termed "crymaxxing" [1]. The 21-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, explained the technique to viewers, noting that tears contain salt and can soften hair, though the assertion has drawn skepticism and amusement online [2].

Key takeaways

• Dillon Latham claimed on a Kick stream that he uses tears as hair styling product [1].
• "Crymaxxing" is described as an extension of the "looksmaxxing" trend focused on enhancing attractiveness [2].
• Scientific analysis suggests tears lack the salt concentration and hygiene of commercial sprays [3].
• Latham runs a men's grooming brand called Simplectics and has millions of followers across social platforms [1].

A viral moment and its origins

During an April 19 livestream on Kick, Latham told viewers he "actively" cries and applies the tears to his hair to achieve a texture similar to sea salt spray [2]. A clip shared by the X account AdinUpdate captured the moment where Latham instructed co-hosts not to laugh while he demonstrated the method [1]. He described the process as "crymaxxing," telling his audience that the salt in tears acts as a natural texturizer [1]. The streamer, who boasts over 1.9 million TikTok followers and 1 million YouTube subscribers, typically focuses on grooming and self-improvement content, but this specific claim shifted the conversation toward the bizarre [1, 2].

The science and strategy behind the claim

The term "crymaxxing" is an extension of "looksmaxxing," a practice involving actions undertaken to enhance physical attractiveness [2]. While Latham is known for legitimate grooming advice and runs a haircare brand called Simplectics, some analysis suggests the viral claim may be a calculated stunt to drive engagement through "hate-watching" [1, 3]. Scientific analysis indicates that while tears do contain sodium, the concentration is significantly lower than that of the ocean or commercial sea salt sprays [3]. Consequently, experts note that using tears would likely result in a sticky residue rather than effective styling, and because tears contain enzymes and lipids, the method could be unhygienic [3].

Why it matters

The incident highlights the intense pressure within the "looksmaxxing" subculture, where young men pursue aesthetic optimization through sometimes extreme or pseudoscientific means [3]. Critics argue that influencers often prioritize shock value over clinical reality, potentially fueling body dysmorphia among followers seeking quick fixes for their appearance [3]. As the clip circulates widely, it raises questions about the line between viral marketing and genuine advice in the digital economy, where attention can be monetized regardless of the absurdity of the method used to generate it [3].